Five Ways Material Screening Can Help Companies Go Green

Landfills and waste are two of the greatest threats to the health of the environment, and effective screening solutions can greatly reduce your company's contribution to the problem.

Nov 28, 2018

Material processing is a complex process that often generates considerable waste. According to Recycling Today, 90 percent of companies utilize some kind of recycling, but the methods used are not always effective—and 10 percent still simply dispose of the unwanted byproducts of production. For companies specializing in material processing, recycling is a must. Too many companies are vulnerable to a cycle of processing, fabricating and wasting material. If you want to break this cycle and minimize your impact on the environment, screening technology can help you do so.

Screening is one of the most important parts of material processing operations. The exact procedure depends on the material being screened and the method being used, but it typically entails the separation of one material from another using a specialized screen that splits the feed. The size of the screen's openings control the separation of the materials and determine the content of the materials. Consider how advanced screening solutions can help your company go green and save money.

Boost Your Recovery Rates
Even the most efficient material processing plant will produce considerable waste on a daily basis. In many ways, it is inevitable. As materials are refined, processed and readied for distribution, the imperfections and byproducts must be collected and dealt with. This process often results in air pollution as well as non-recyclable waste. Recovery rates refer to the portion of materials that are salvaged from waste and preserved for recycling or later use. Facilities that attain a high recovery rate minimize environmental impact of material processing. Precision screening solutions can boost recovery rates in the following ways:

Specify custom material sizing to more precisely screen materials

Separate materials and byproducts with high accuracy

Process materials faster, thus making recovery more efficient

Minimize loss and waste caused by poorly screened materials

With higher-quality screening technology, you can focus on processing materials without worrying about producing excessive waste. Customizable screen sizing allows you to filter materials at a higher accuracy and achieve optimal recovery rates in the process. With more precise screening, more of your byproducts can be salvaged and recycled. Nothing is greener—and nothing saves your company more green—than this!

Minimize Waste
Waste is a serious problem for any company that processes and produces refined materials. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 25 percent of municipal solid waste is recycled, while 52 percent of it is put into landfills. There are a number of factors that contribute to these figures, but of course, it is important to consider how much of this waste could be recovered. Advanced screening technology allows material processing plants to more precisely screen materials that can and cannot be recovered, and in the process, reduce waste of salvageable materials.

Landfills and waste are two of the greatest threats to the health of the environment, and effective screening solutions can greatly reduce your company's contribution to the problem. By controlling the characteristics of the products screened, you can salvage a greater portion of your materials. Screening allows you to save money and materials while minimizing the waste that is created from material processing.

Maximize Product Quality
In addition to reducing waste and boosting recovery rates, better screening methods can improve the quality of your product. A significant amount of waste is generated by processed materials that do not meet quality standards and thus cannot be used. These materials are often disposed of or recycled, but they hurt your bottom line and increase opportunity for waste. Precision screening technology reduces such problems in the following ways:

Control the quality of material by precisely screening and separating

Screen out impurities and waste that compromise quality of target product

Separate material into multiple grades depending on intended use

Process material to the exact specifications of product quality standards

Material processing plants with a high quality threshold are less likely to produce environmentally-harmful waste and byproducts. Maintaining high quality standards also boosts profits and makes recovery easier when refining the final product. Innovative screening solutions make this possible by enabling processing that is ultra-precise and efficient. Reduce waste and produce higher-quality products in one fell swoop!

Innovative Technology
The technology you use determines the results you will see. Not all screening systems are created equal, and many are simply not as effective as they could be. If you are working with a system that has limited options for customization or fixed shafts, you are not screening your materials as effectively as you could be. Innovative screening technology gives users more control to screen materials according to the precise specifications that your target product demands. Some of the key features to look for in a screening system include the following:

Adjustable shaft to allow for screening of different kinds and sizes of materials

Pre-screening tool to reduce cost and time associated with material size reduction

Customizable screen openings for complete control over materials produced

Compatibility with other systems in your plant for integrated material processing

Flexible settings for use with various material conditions and qualities

Traditional screening technology relies primarily on vibration to separate materials and byproducts, but newer options provide more opportunity for customization and precision. Upgrading can improve the quality of your products, reduce the waste produced by the process and boost your recovery rates so that more materials can be reused and recycled.

A Range of Applications
The more effective your screening system is, the less harm you are likely to inflict upon the environment. Material processing is an intensive endeavor, and byproducts and waste are inevitable. Still, you do not have to generate more waste than is necessary, and you can substantially reduce this problem by implementing innovative screening solutions. Materials processing plants across a range of industries, including the following, can benefit:

Mining

Pharmaceuticals

Welding

Glass production

Consumer production

Construction

There are a myriad of applications for an effective screening system. No matter what sector your company is in or what kind of materials you are processing, the right screening technology can minimize your waste, maximize profits and make your company more environmentally friendly.

Robert Wilterdink is an Applications Engineer at Aggregates Equipment, Inc., a manufacturer of material processing equipment for demanding screening applications.